Momentky, winner of Best Documentary Short
Following five weeks of intense training, scouting, shooting and post-production, and with more than 50 hours of raw footage processed, Aristoteles Workshop 2011 culminated on Saturday with a screening and awards ceremony held for this year's 5 (yes, five) documentary shorts, followed by a bonfire celebration. The jury, comprised of representatives from Arte France, MEDIA Desk Europe and FAMU, as well as reputed film critics and journalists, designated Momentky as this year's Best Documentary Short, with a Special Mention going to “The Japanese Quince Tree”. Momentky was also the recipient of a 2500 euro prize offered by the Romanian Cultural Institute.
The end to this year’s workshop was quite intense, as the days leading up to the screening ceremony saw each team put in 20-hour long editing sessions in order to get their films ready on time. On the night before the premiere, neither students nor tutors managed to get any sleep, and just hours before kick off, cinematographers were color grading as the rest of their teams were brainstorming possible titles. All this last minute effort wasn't the result of panic, but rather the mark of very productive edition of Aristoteles Workshop, one that saw not four but five documentary films, each a gem in itself, get made in less time than it takes to make a decent TV commercial.
Momentky (Czech for Snapshot), impressed the jury through its mesmerizing cinematography and the diversity of individual stories it weaved together. The film follows a century old steam train touring medieval monasteries in Bucovina, and offers glimpses into the lives of the different characters it brings together: couples young and old, solitary figures, quirky mechanics, politicians and troubadours, each with a story of their own. The film was directed by Veronicka Janeckova and shot by Inese Tikmane, with Gabi Bazalici serving as editor and Eliza Zdru as producer. Their achievement was made all the more impressive by the challenges faced during production, such as getting all of the footage in just two 12-hour shoots, and overcoming adversities related to sound, lenses and lighting.
The quality of this year's films was reflected by the jury's decision to award a Special Mention, which went to The Japanese Quince Tree - a heart-warming, intimate portrait of a 90 year old woman, living her days in a beautiful home that appears to be stuck in time, sharing her memories, remorses, and reflections on life, love and Baudelaire. The screening was particularly intense for director Mara Trifu, cinematographer Radu Gorgos, editor Paula Onet and producer Biljama Dolevska, as Mrs. Grosu herself was a special guest at the screening ceremony.
If there is one word that could define what makes this year's films exquisite, it would have to be "intimacy"- each of the four teams managed gained access into their subject's private universe, yet none managed to venture as far as director Ivana Mladenovic and her film If 6 was 9 - a daring, hour long foray into the world of an eccentric character with artistic inclinations and the ability to go from ludicrous to threatening within moments. The audience went into the film laughing, and came out slightly uneased, trying to figure where reality stopped and delusion started, and whether they should laugh at the character or root for him. The film was edited by Ana Iliesiu and shot by Saulius Lukosevicius, with Mirona Radu serving as producer.
One particularly empathetic viewing experience was director Ozana Nicolau's The Tank -about the struggles of a 13 year old girl on the path towards becoming a famous etnofolk singer, under the tight supervision of her grandmother. The film was edited by Cristina Baciu, with Sergei Trofimov handling cinematography and Marios Chatziprokopiou handling production.
The latter two were also responsible for this year's "bonus" documentary short: in their spare time, Sergei and Marios ventured into a nearby village and witnessed, up close, the local rites and traditions associated with a funeral. The end result: an introspective, 16-minute film with a unique atmosphere and excellent pacing.
All five films screened at Aristoteles Workshop 2011 received praise from jury members and audience alike. For the 16 participants, it also meant an opportunity to witness their fellow students' craft and judge how each team had applied the lessons learned throughout the workshop. Students, audience and jury were brought together later that night in a farewell bonfire celebration, complete with champagne and fireworks,
Aristoteles Workshop was held for the second year in a row in the mountain village of Vama, Suceava, bringind together students from Romania, The Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Serbia, Macedonia, Moldavia and Greece.
Participants were given only five weeks to produce a documentary short, under the supervision of experts Thierry Garrel and Jeroen Berkvens in the pre-production stage, and with the aid of filmmakers Rafi Pitts, Simon Brook and Nino Kirtadze during the production stage.
